9 replies to this topic

[JeffSimms]

Hey guys I've looked around online a bit and found some information on Mid-ice fish kills or whatever you may call them, And it has definitely happened at the lake I've been ice fishing lately. Every hole we opened was soon swarmed by half dead and dying Bluegills, And many holes that were left from other fishermen had anywhere from 10-60 small fry Frozen between the layers,mainly sunfish and a select few Killifish. So my question, considering as one guy I can't exactly combat low oxygen levels in a water body, How do I continue to catch crappie, pike ,etc.. from this lake in these bad conditions? In the last two weeks, I've been skunked there 4 times, which is more than the entire season last year haha.

[RedCat]

Just what I found. I would assume low oxygen is effecting all fish. Some are dying. Rough winter

 

Cold weather causing winterkill on some southern Minnesota lakes
MN DNR News Release
February 10, 2014

An especially cold winter is showing its effects around some southern Minnesota shallow lakes and ponds with dead or dying fish. Although this can be discouraging to see, in most cases it is the result of a normal process known as "winterkill" according to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR). Shallow lakes in southern Minnesota with an average depth of less than six feet are most susceptible.

Craig Soupir, Waterville Area Fisheries supervisor, said winterkill conditions are created when sunlight is unable to penetrate the ice, and oxygen levels in the water drop. Fish may be unable to survive in these low oxygen conditions. “Lack of sunlight limits oxygen production in some aquatic plants and at the same time, decomposition plant matter causes a drop in oxygen,” Soupir said. “When this process occurs under ice cover it can cause fish to become stressed and, if severe enough, to suffocate.”

Winterkill is a natural process that can actually benefit a lake. In lakes with high numbers of carp, for example, periodic winterkill can thin out their numbers and create a void in the fish community. This void is often is followed by improved water clarity, increased aquatic vegetation and a re-introduction of native game fish species.

Soupir said populations of game fish can sometimes rebound quite dramatically in years following winterkill. Increased production from existing fish, rapid growth of stocked fish and improved survival of young fish can all contribute to a lake that can quickly become productive to anglers.

It is not unusual for lakes in southern Minnesota to experience some winterkill on an annual basis. However, the severity of winterkill varies greatly depending on factors such as depth of snow and length of time it covers the ice, lake depths, water inflows and the rate at which oxygen drops over time. Most often, winterkill events on these shallow basins are partial and rarely do all fish in a lake die.

“Fish can become trapped in an area of the lake with low oxygen, causing a partial winterkill,” Soupir said. “This doesn’t mean the entire lake has winterkilled.” Many times, schools of fish find refuge in other areas of a lake with sufficient oxygen levels to survive. Just because one part of a lake shows signs of winterkill, does not automatically mean the entire lake has winterkilled.

The fishery in some lakes are specifically managed around winterkill and are known as “boom and bust” lakes. These shallow lakes typically have high survival rates of stocked fish which grow rapidly and provide quick turnaround for anglers. These are the type of lakes that rely on frequent winterkills, which may happen every four or five, years, to reset the lake and allow the fish population to achieve its boom times of quality-sized fish.

While some larger and deeper lakes in southern Minnesota have installed aeration systems to reduce the probability of winterkill effects, aerated lakes are still susceptible to winterkill. Additionally, it has been found that attempts to aerate very shallow lakes often do not work well for maintaining a fishery.

Soupir said some species of fish are more vulnerable to winterkill than others. Trout require the most oxygen and start to stress at oxygen levels below 5.0 parts per million (ppm). Bluegill and largemouth bass are moderately sensitive to lower oxygen levels. Walleye, yellow perch, northern pike, carp and crappie species have intermediate tolerances and have been shown to survive winters with oxygen levels down to about 1.0 ppm for long periods of time. Bullheads and fathead minnows are the most tolerant of low oxygen and are the last to survive.

“We don’t usually see winterkill until oxygen levels fall well below 1.0 ppm for several days throughout a lake,” Soupir said.

He added that in the late winter, species such as northern pike have a tendency to seek open water areas as an impulse to their early migratory spawning run to shallow water or flooded inlets.

Anyone observing dead or struggling fish should report their findings to the local DNR Fisheries office. Note the species and approximate numbers and sizes of each kind of fish. The information will help DNR identify which lakes experienced winterkill and to what extent in conjunction with ice-out netting assessments and observations. Follow-up stocking of fish may ensue, if consistent with DNR lake-specific management plans. For more information, contact your local DNR Area Fisheries office.
 

[JeffSimms]

Yea I read a post similar to that. supposedly this lake has fish kills every couple of years. Anyone know of any tricks to still catch fish in low oxygen levels? I know there are Eye's, pike and crappie in there, and I haven't seen any sign of them dying off. I'd prefer to go to other lakes but this is the one of the few decent spots local to me, So any help would be appreciated

[w_ boughner]

Drop shot live minnows is the best I can think of

[Float down]

Yea I read a post similar to that. supposedly this lake has fish kills every couple of years. Anyone know of any tricks to still catch fish in low oxygen levels? I know there are Eye's, pike and crappie in there, and I haven't seen any sign of them dying off. I'd prefer to go to other lakes but this is the one of the few decent spots local to me, So any help would be appreciated

I'd leave that lake alone, if it's hurting, why increase fish fatality? Got to be other bodies of water close to you? I'm not being rude and don't have the knowledge to understand the actual circumstances, just seems that if the baits dying the bigger species likely will too.

[NADO]

If I started seeing dead fish coming up the hole I would definitely just pick another spot to fish. 

[JeffSimms]

There is literally one other water body that I can ice fish, and it's a grca area with an entry fee, I can't justify paying just to go out to fish every time. I think i'll just call it a day on ice fishing this year, I don't enjoy it enough to pay just to go, or to have to drive an hour plus for half decent fishing.

[w_ boughner]

But if you get a season pass you can go to all the grca sites all summer with the pass

[JeffSimms]

I don't usually find myself wanting to go to any of the grca run lakes, I usually just frequent the rivers, but that's definitely something to look into. Thanks

[w_ boughner]

It just makes it easier to go to any of the lakes or gorge and fish where they have stocking programs to counter the fishing pressure and most are large enough to not be really affected by a winter kill